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“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best
time is today.” – Chinese Proverb
Submitted by Good Morning Reader Rhonda Miga

Good morning!

Rhonda included this note in her email:

I think this applies to all of us. There are many things that we
wanted to do 20 years (10 or even 5) ago but we never got around to
it. I think this proverb is great because it is saying “so what,

do it today!” You can’t go back and change what you did not do but
there is nothing stopping us from doing it today.

I recently went back to school and made a comment to my mother in
law… “maybe I will finish this by the time I am 50.” She said…
“You are going to be 50 anyway, right… so why not be 50 and have
a new degree.”

It may have been better to get this degree years ago but now is the
2nd best time.

These are wonderful words of wisdom. This quote also reminds me
that we need not live with regret. What we didn’t do yesterday (or
decades ago) can still be started today. Why live in the past, when
we have the power to create our future?

Your Turn:
What has been left undone in your life that you could begin today?
Take a regret from the past and make it into an action plan for
your future.

Your Affirmation:
It is always the right time to begin what needs to be done.

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Around the Corner:			“Out of clutter find simplicity. From discord find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” ~Albert Einstein
ONLINE CLASSES: Make Today Matter Enroll Anytime – Two Weeks Free Trial and Then Only $19.95/mo Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want: Learn more and register or, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package - LIMITED TIME ONLY – 20% OFF PLUS BONUSES! Learn more and order Current Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives			Good morning! Although written years ago, I think these words offer inspiration and stress-releasers for today’s contemporary family. Why don’t you try to implement at least one of Einstein’s ideas into your household this upcoming week…to chase away those mid-summer-stressors. Your turn: Get creative and find a new way to incorporate simplicity, harmony or opportunity in your life. Your affirmation: In clutter, I find simplicity. In discord, I find harmony. In difficulty, I find opportunity.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Around the Corner:			“Facts do not cease to exist just because they are ignored.” Aldous Huxley
ONLINE CLASSES: Make Today Matter Independent Enroll Anytime – Two Weeks Free Trial and Then Only $19.95/mo Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want: Learn more and register or, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package: Learn more and order Current Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives			Good morning! When Donna submitted this quote, I knew it would have to be the subject of one of our Good Mornings. I think this quote speaks to one of the core issues many self-improvement programs miss. We can’t “ignore the facts,” as we strive to create a better life. While positive thinking is a great tool, if we ignore the facts, we set ourselves up for disappointment. That’s why the Change Your Life Challenge is 70 days (or steps) versus “5 days to a better life.” We don’t ignore what is around us. We methodically work through the “life clutter” while maintaining a positive attitude because we are “taking control.” A positive attitude shouldn’t be something we “brainwash” ourselves to have. A true positive attitude is born when we take action, take responsibility, and start regaining control of the many areas of our lives. We can learn a lot by looking at the flipside of this. If our attitudes aren’t positive, then we can assume that we are either: 1. trying to brainwash ourselves without dealing with core issues, 2. not taking action, 3. not regaining control, 4. ignoring the facts or, 5. not taking responsibility. Those 5 ingredients are the mixture required for a lasting, positive outlook. Some might argue that our outlook relies on external events. In cases of tragedy, this is often true. But in our day-to-day stresses and anxieties, I would disagree. One of my favorite quotes has always been, “Two men look out the same prison bars, one sees mud, the other sees stars.” In this example, the external is the same–but the focus of the two men is different. Here is another example from my life. We had a big ice storm here in Wisconsin. I was excited because I love snow and winter weather. My friend was bummed because she hates driving on ice. The external was the same, the outlook that we shared was different. We control our outlook. Your Turn: Where in your life have you been pushing to have a good attitude, without taking into account “the facts?” Which of these 5 areas could you improve on today? 1. Not brainwashing yourself into a positive attitude by ignoring core issues 2. Taking action 3. Regaining control 4. Facing the facts or 5. Taking responsibility. What is a step you can take in the next hour in one of those areas? Your Affirmation: I am actively regaining control of every area of my life.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Around the Corner:			“Time is amazingly forgiving. No matter how much time you’ve wasted in the past, you still have an entire today. Success depends upon using it wisely–by planning and setting priorities.” ~Denis Waitely
ONLINE CLASSES: Make Today Matter Independent Enroll Anytime – Two Weeks Free Trial and Then Only $19.95/mo Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want: Learn more and register or, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package: Learn more and order Current Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives			Good morning! How wonderful to realize that today is “ours” – no matter what yesterday held. When we greet each morning with that willingness to use the day wisely, plan and set priorities, we can achieve our full potential. Do you have your 3-Step Daily Action item list ready to go today? When was the last time you used the “Snapshot” technique from the Make Today Matter program to check your progress? Take a moment to do so today. Your turn: Today, forgive yourself for past days that weren’t “all they could be.” Take a moment and revisit your priorities, dreams and aspirations. Commit to using today, and every day possible, wisely. Your affirmation: Regardless of yesterday, I choose to use today wisely.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Around the Corner:			“Those who have found tranquility are calm and pleasant to be with.” ~Zen saying, excerpted from A Thousand Paths to Tranquility
ONLINE CLASSES: Enroll Through June 13th – Only $39 Visual Journaling Order now and get a FREE CD ROM with nearly 200 images on it! Learn more and register Make Today Matter Independent Enroll Anytime – Two Weeks Free Trial and Then Only $19.95/mo Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want: Learn more and register or, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package: Learn more and order Current Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives			Good morning! Since our day is greatly dependent on how we begin our mornings, give yourself some extra time to calmly organize for your day. I know this can be hard. I am not a morning person. If it was up to me, life could start around 11:00 AM. But, it isn’t up to me, so if you can’t beat them, join them. I bound out of bed every day by 5:30 or 6:00 and give myself 30-60 minutes to center, sort, and get in the mindset to face the day. I do some positive reading, I put on my makeup, I write my affirmations, take a look outside, say a quick prayer. I don’t oversleep very often, but when I do and don’t have this “centered time,” my day looks more like “A Thousands Paths to Chaos” than the quote above from “A Thousand Paths to Tranquility.” For those of you with school-age children, try to get in this habit now before the start of the school year. It will be much easier to wake up your children with a smile and compliment if you have had that cup of coffee and a chance to center yourself. Morning should be a pleasant time … not a mad dash and scramble to get everyone directed down their path for the day. Everyone will feel so much better, all the day through, by getting a confident and calming send-off first thing in the morning … Your turn: Find 15-30 minutes of time for YOU in the morning. Don’t spend it checking e-mail or unloading the dishwasher. Read your Good Morning e-mail, write an affirmation, read a positive passage from a book, say your affirmations aloud. Give yourself some “soul food” to begin your day. Your affirmation: (Write this in your Catch-All Notebook) and say it aloud at least several times today: I care for myself and in turn care better for others when I give myself morning reflective time.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Giving Up the Cape
Excerpted from The Change Your Life Challenge by Brook Noel.

“I find it interesting that the very cape I tried to use to fly became so heavy it kept me grounded.” –Brook Noel

One day I was racing around town, errand to errand, mission to mission. When I stopped at my house to grab a few papers, the phone rang. It was a dear friend, so I carved out ten minutes to tell him about the hectic pace I had been leading for the past twenty-four hours.

The night before there had been a full-Wisconsin blizzard and I had gone out to shake the snow off my old rosebush so the branches wouldn’t crack under the weight. While doing this, I heard a crackling sound. Looking up, I saw several sparks shooting out from a neighbor’s tree. A wire, weighted down with snow, was blowing against a fork in the old oak. Realizing this was probably a fire hazard I called the fire department. The fire department asked me to call the electric company. I did. The woman on the other end said there were emergencies left and right due to the storm.

“But what about my flaming tree?” I asked.

“Well, we can’t get to it until we fix the power outages. Would you mind just keeping an eye on it?”

“I guess not,” I replied before hanging up the phone.

So I made a makeshift bed near the window using a few sofa pillows and set up my “tree stakeout.” While I’m watching this thirty-foot tree crackle and spark, I realize if the tree were to crash down, it would go through our roof. Realizing this could be a disaster, I rushed upstairs to rescue my husband and daughter who were both sleeping soundly.
I shoved him, pushed him, and finally awoke him from his slumber to tell him the tale of the sparking-tree. My husband stared at me through his one half-opened eye. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to move downstairs and is more concerned with his sleep than his safety. Fortunately, after a little prodding, I persuaded him to join me in my tree-stakeout. I then rescued Samantha from her crib; she was about eight-months old at the time.

We took our perch and Andy made a longer makeshift bed for him to sleep on. Determined not to lose sight of the tree, I tried to stay awake. Despite my best citizen-watch attempt, I fell asleep. Samantha did too, tucked securely between my husband and me.

I awoke around two that morning. I glanced out the window. The tree was still there. Andy was still there. Samantha, however, was not. I shook Andy’s shoulder. “Where’s Sammy?”

“I’m not sure,” he replied, shaking himself awake.

So we began our search. Samantha had just begun the rolling phase and had rolled through three rooms and was on her way, full speed, to the kitchen. Nestling her in my arms, I resumed my place in our living-room-camp.

Samantha woke up two very short hours later with a scream like that of an elephant seal. Knowing this was probably one of her chronic ear infections, I bounced into action with my cooing and cuddling routine. I began to count the hours until the clinic would open. There were four hours between the clinic, and an antibiotic, and me.

After a sleepless, scream-filled, four hours had passed, and a quick shoveling of the snow to get the car out, I ran Samantha to the clinic. There, my suspicion of an ear infection was confirmed. Then it was off to the pharmacy. Then it was back to the house. That morning a call had come from the forestry service. They would be coming out to take a look at the tree and wanted to make sure I was home.

Then it was off to my computer desk where I balanced Samantha on one leg while finishing an advertising campaign with my one free hand. Of course, the campaign was due at the photographer’s that day. To deliver the campaign, I would have to drive 45 miles in a blizzard with a sick child, around the schedule of the forestry service.

In my rush to meet deadline, I forgot the ad as I hurried out of the house. So I had to-double back. As I pulled it off my desk, the phone rang. It was a dear friend asking how my day had gone. I informed him of my adventures with the tree, the forestry service, the clinic, and the campaign.

“It’s always something,” he said in a soft voice. Though I couldn’t see him, I knew he was smiling.

“What do you mean?” I had asked.

“Last week when I called it was training your cat, starting a new book, and accepting a new campaign. The week before that it was making homemade edible clay with Sammy, giving painting lessons, and starting a novel while re-wallpapering the kitchen. Why are you doing so much?”

“Well,” I paused. “I…um…”

“Yes?”

“I don’t do that much,” I said meekly.

“You’re going to go with that?” he questioned again. I remained silent. Then my dear friend said four words that were a gift: “Give up the cape.”

Shortly after that day, I began to-do just that. Instead of trying to accomplish everything and please everyone, I began to focus on what was important to me and my family. I began to accept that there will never be enough time to-do everything so we must do what is important. We must decide and take action on what matters.

Since I’ve discarded that cape, I’ve been much less restricted. I find it interesting that the very cape I tried to use to fly, became so heavy it kept me grounded. Instead of living up to the “shoulds” and “woulds” that bound my life, I live by the desire to create harmony within my family. It’s a great cape to outgrow.

Participating in soccer, cleaning, cooking, sewing, working, party-organizing, PTA, and church choir doesn’t make a person better than one who might only do three activities. Society has taught us that the more you have and the more you do, the more successful and fulfilled you will become. The odds are, in fact, that the person engaged in frequent activities is more likely to become haggard, frustrated, or burnt-out.

I think this is definitely an area where turning back to basics would do us good. Today, when making any decision, contemplate the thought that “less is more.”

Your Assignment
In what ways have you been trying to-do more than is realistically possible while still staying sane? Begin shedding the super-parent cape by stripping back unrealistic expectations. Try listing out all your responsibilities and expectations. Then imagine this list was not your own, but that of a dear friend. What advice would you give her for leading a more balanced life?

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Around the Corner:			“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can  use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.” ~Harvey MacKay
ONLINE CLASSES:   Starts Today - Extreme Home Makeover   Enroll Through April 18 – Only $49 Learn more and register   Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want: Learn more and registeror, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package: Learn more and order Monthly Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+   Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives			Good morning!   Our time is more valuable than money. Our time is the one thing money can’t buy. If only we would protect and cherish our time like we would a winning lottery ticket. One of my mentors is a very successful CEO who has gone through vigorous, top-notch, elite training programs. When I asked him for advice, he shared that the single most important thing a person can do is recognize their core competencies. He explained that there are things in this world that ONLY Brook can do. He stressed that I needed to spend 90% of my time “in that zone.” He also explained that there are many things Brook can do, but can also be done by others. He shared that one of the biggest mistakes we make is not being true to our core competencies and spending too much time doing things that other people can also do.   Sometimes we do this because we think “our way is the best way” or we are scared to let go. But each time we veer from our core competencies, we also veer from our core mission.   Your Turn: What are your core competencies? What tasks do you need to “let go” so you can spend more time “in the zone?”   Your affirmation: I value and cherish my time–always spending it wisely.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Slow down, you move too fast, you gotta make the good times last.
~from the song Feeling Groovy

Good morning!   When I was a little girl I learned the lyrics to “Feeling Groovy” in choir and we sang the song for a spring concert. It has such wonderful lyrics and a catchy tune that I have retained many of the lyrics and occasionally find myself humming them.
 
A few days ago, we had a really “wet snow” in Wisconsin. The roads were snow covered and quite icy and as I made my 26-mile-trek home on the freeway, the top traffic speed was 30 mph.
 
When I got home, my daughter wanted to go out to eat as we had planned the night before. The little Mexican restaurant we often frequent is about 10-12 minutes away on a non-snowy day. Given the number of accidents I had seen on the freeway, I didn’t think it was a good idea to go out in these conditions.
 
“But we have 4-wheel drive,” she pleaded, puffing out her lip in a pout that must have taken years of practicing in front of a mirror to perfect. Regardless, it is a facial expression I can’t refuse.
 
“It will take us 30 minutes to get there,” I tried to reason. She didn’t care. I told her I would only drive on the back roads. I am a great snow-driver, but I don’t necessarily trust everyone else on the road, so I decided there likely wouldn’t be much traffic on the back roads.
 
We bundled up and set out on our journey. The back roads hadn’t been plowed yet, so we sang “dashing through the snow,” as we made our way to the restaurant in the predicted half-hour time.
 
After an enjoyable dinner, we made the 30-minute trek home. By now the snow had begun to accumulate rapidly. As I turned onto the road that leads to our home, I was taken aback by the beauty of the snow resting on the trees. It was one of those “blanket snows” that made everything look like it was outlined in lace. I pointed it out to Sammy and we drove even slower to enjoy the beauty to be found in each snow-covered form of nature.
 
The next day would be warm. So when we arrived home, we took some extra time to stand outside and enjoy the “lacy wonder,” knowing by morning it would have melted.
 
Interestingly, I always find myself in a cheerful mood when the Wisconsin snow falls. Many people aren’t fond of the snow, and dislike driving in the “white” stuff. But I always find myself humming as I toddle around. That night it occurred to me why I like the snow. In my daily hustle and bustle, I don’t often look at the trees or really “see” the beauty that surrounds me as I would like to. I am usually dashing madly from one commitment to another. The snow forces me to slow down. As soon as I slow down, I can see all the beauty that surrounds me more clearly.
 
Your Turn:
Today, try to “slow down.” Notice how when you “slow down” you are more apt to see all the beauty in life. Do as the Feeling Groovy song lyrics suggest and “make the good times last.”
 
Your Affirmation:
I absorb and appreciate all the beauty around me.

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